Marathon watchers come out in force

October 14, 2002|By Tom McCann, Tribune staff reporter.

A 12-year veteran of the Chicago Marathon, Stacy Martwick said Sunday that she would probably collapse if she had to run a block.

"I get out of breath just watching them, but I always come to cheer," said Martwick, who shouted encouragement as thousands of runners streamed through Lakeview. "They need us. We're their support group."

The 25th annual marathon attracted a record 31,584 runners this year, a number dwarfed by the more than a million spectators, also a record, marathon spokesman Tom Smithburg said.

The cheerleaders took their jobs seriously.

Crowding the streets and neighborhoods along the 26.2-mile route, they shouted into megaphones and became impromptu motivational speakers to give the exhausted runners that extra push.

"I'm trying everything in the book to get these stragglers moving," said Tony Figeroa as he gave high-fives near mile 18 in Pilsen, waiting for his wife to run by.

Many turned out to support loved ones, co-workers or friends as they made their way to the finish line. Many others showed up to cheer complete strangers.

Bob Thompson, 61, of Lockport had run in the marathon yearly since 1984, but registered too late this year. He decided to come anyway.

"I'm here because I remember what it felt like to get a high-five when you can't go on," he said, slapping hands with runners in Greek Town. "It gives you a shot of adrenaline. The entire route is just packed with people now. It gets you pumped."

Some like Rose Garcia never expected to watch a marathon. Thousands of runners flew by St. Procopius Catholic Church in Pilsen as she waited for her wedding to start.

"The runners just started screaming and cheering and yelling `congratulations.' It took me by surprise," Garcia said after the ceremony, her husband Richard at her side. "It was unexpected but really nice."

Officials said the event, which started at 7:30 a.m., had very few injuries and no fatalities, a change from previous marathons. Last year, a 22-year-old runner from Seattle, died after his body became overheated, the third fatality in four years.

The marathon's increasing popularity provides a stimulus for the local economy and was expected to generate almost $100 million this year--about $10 million more than in 2001, Smithburg said.

"It's been just crazy all day. We almost doubled our business," said Erin Creed, manager of the Melrose Restaurant on the 3200 block of North Broadway Street. "It was so cold, I can't tell you how many pots of coffee we served."

The city auto pound also was doing a brisk business. Almost 100 angry people waited in line Sunday at a West Side lot, some still wearing their marathon medals, as they waited to reclaim their vehicles.

"There were no signs anywhere for the marathon," said Christine Chiabai, 28, who woke up to find her car gone in Lincoln Park. "It's like they wanted us to get towed so they could make some money."

In Greektown, Fran Peroulas, 56, leaned on her cane and screamed herself hoarse.

"Keep it up! You can do it, sir! Wow, I'm really getting into this now," Peroulas said, scanning the runners for her son, Tommy.

"This is my first year, but now I'm hooked," she said. "I'm definitely coming back. Tommy can't do it alone."